Pneumatic amusement machine gun



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April 15, 1941.

CHARLESA.FLTMA/V- INVENTOR.

BY 7:4" I. Mwnw w I ATTORNEY;

Patented Apr. 15, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE V 2,238,384PNEUMATIC AMUSEMENT MACHINE GUN Charles A. Feltman, Brooklyn, N. Y.Application June 1, 1939, Serial No. 276,762

12 Claims.

neously into the magazine back of the balls, The

halls are therefore continuously blown from the magazine and through thebarrel as long as the valve is open or until the supply of balls isexhausted; The magazine is made air-tight for this purpose and isprovided with an air-tight cover which can be removed for placing a newcharge of the balls into the magazine. For conmeans to relieve theexcessive pressure on the pin it it should happen to bear directlyagainst a ball. The pins for this purpose are made of two telescopicallyconnected parts with a sprin holding the parts apart. I A further objectof my invention is to provide means for counting the number ofsuccessive charges of the balls fired from the gun. I employ for thispurpose a counter of an ordinary construction, mechanically connectedwith the cover on the magazine in such amanner that the counterregisters every time the cover is opened for placing a new charge of theballs in the venience oi the attendants in the shooting gal- I lery, thecharging opening is at the front end of the gun where it is moreaccessible to them.

Another object of my invention is to provide means to automaticallycontrol the rate of movement ofthe balls from the magazine into thebarrel. .This object is accomplished in my invention by the provision ofreciprocating sliding pins alternately obstructing the passage for theballs and spaced apart so as to admit one ball at a time, the front pinalternately closing and opening the passage for the balls through thebarrel, the other pin alternately closing and opening the passage forthe balls from the magazine into the barrel. I operate the pinspreferably by an electric motor and by adjustingits speed I can controlthe rate at which the balls are projected from the barrel, By making thepins of a smaller diameter than the barrel, it'is magazine. Theconnection between the counter and the cover is also useful in that itserves as a flexible attachment preventing. the loss of the cover whenit is opened.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from theaccompanying speciflcation and drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevationof my machine of Fi 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail view of the magazine cover;

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail view of one oi the ball-feeding pins;

Fig. 5 is a detail view of a cam-which operates the pin; and V Fig." 8is a fractional sectional view of a block with passages for the balls,showing a modified construction of a ball-feeding pin.

Fig. 7 is a detailed view of a ball control attachment.

My machine gun in one of its practical embodiments as shown in Fig, 1,comprises a barrel I fitted at the rear end in a block 2, the latterhav- As a modification, the front pins may be made in the form of a flatbar completely closing the barrel so that the air flow is stopped everytime anew ball is moved from the magazine into the v a barrel, Such anarrangement is useful where it is desired to economize in the use of thecompressed air.

A further object of my invention is to provide ing a bore 3 formingcontinuation of the bore of the barrel. A tube 4 is also'fltted in theblock 2 at the rear end, the block having a curved bassage 5 connectingthe tube 4 with the bore 3. The tube 4 forms a magazine for balls 8which can roll from the tube into the barrel, the passage 5 beinginclined forward at an angle to the barrel. The front end of the tube ortubular magazine 4 is fitted into a block 1 which is also provided withan opening for supporting the front end of the barrel i. The block 2 ismounted on a bracket I which also supportsa valve I connected at thebottom by a flexible pipe Ill with a source of com-pressed air (notshown) or other suitable fluid under pressure. The exhaust end of thevalve is connected by a pipe i I and suitable fittings, such as an elbowl2 and a tee IS, with the bore 3 of the block 2. A pipe ll extends from.

the tee l3 and is attached at the other end to the front block, beingconnected by a passage- II with a bore I6 forming a continuation of thebore of-the tubular magazine 4. The front end of the bore [0 is closedby a pin ll attached to a cover or can ll slidably fitted. over acylindrical extene Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2 2pulling on the trigger.

sion is at the front end of the block I, The pin I! and the cap l6 closea filling hole 26 in the extension IS, the hole being used for placingnew charges of the balls into the magazine.

The cap is provided with angular slots 2| (Fig.

3) engaging pins 22 fitted in the extension I! so that the cap can belocked in the closed position by turning so as to place the pins in theends of the slots. A resilient washer 23 at the bottom of the capprovides sufficient frictional pressure against the pins in the lockedposition in order to prevent spontaneous loosening or the cap from thepins. The sealing pin I1 is threaded into the bottom of the cap and islocked by a nut 24. By adjusting the position of the pin H in the cap itis possible to partly close the passage l5, thereby adjusting the amountof the compressed air passing into the magazine. I have found that theair pressure in the magazine should be maintained below the air pressurein the barrel in order to prevent jamming of the balls in the curvedpassage in the rear block 2.

The compressed air flows through the barrel when the valve 9 is openedand it also flows through the magazine from the front to the rear,driving the balls into the barrel. The balls are accordingly ejected ina steady stream from the barrel l. The valve 8 is controlled by a lever25 pivoted at 26 in a lug 21 extending from the body of the valve. Theupper end of the lever 26- engages the outer end of a valve stem 23, thelower end of the lever being curved in the shape of a finger trigger 29.The valve is opened by A handle 36 is provided at the rear of the gunforming an extension of a casing 3| enclosing the operative parts of thegun. A lug 32 on the under side of the casing 3| is pivotally connectedat 33 to the upper end of rangement of the passage 5 has an advantage inthat it enables the two pins to be placed side by side or in a parallelrelation to each other despite the fact that they operate in diilerentpassages. It is evident that such an arrangement would be impossible ifthe passage 5 were placed at right angles to the bore 3. I

In order to prevent any damage to the pin if it should bear centrallyagainst a ball, the pins are formed of two parts each telescopicallyfitted into each other. The upper parts'36 and 3! respectively areslidably fitted in screw plugs 50 (Fig. 4) which close the upper openingof bores 5| in the tubular lower portions 33. The upper portions 36 and31 have enlargements 52 resting against the inner ends of the plugs 50under pressure of springs 53. The springs are sufiiciently strong forthe, normal operation of the pins in separat ing the balls andcontrolling their passage into the barrel from the magazine, but theyyield and allow the pins to telescopically slide into the lower portionswhen the upper ends of the pins are obstructed by striking, a ball.Retrieving springs 54 are provided 1 the upper portions of the bores forthe pinsin-the block 2, urging the pins against the cams by theirrollers 39.

The operation of the gun starts when the valve 6 i opened by thepressure on the trigger and stops when the trigger is released. Themotor 44 is operated continuously and, in orderto prevent the balls frombeing discharged into the barrel when the valve 9 is closed, a lockingmechanism is provided consisting of a rod 55 slidably supported in thewall of the bracket 3 and having an enlargement 56 engaged by acompression spring 5'! which urges the enlarged portion against the pin33'. The latter has a notch 53 which can be engaged by a correspondinglug 59 a pin 34 rotatively fitted in a standard 35 which forms a supportfor the gun. The latter-can be turned in any direction by the handle 36while operating the valve 9.

In order to automatically maintain a desired rate at which the balls areprojected through the barrel, a mechanism is provided consisting of twopins 36 and 31 slidably fitted in the block 2 and alternately engagingthe balls in the bore 3 and in the passage 5. The pins have enlargedlower portions 38 and 36 sliding in corresponding bores in the block 2and provided with rollers 33 at the lower ends engaged by cams 43. Thelatter are mounted on a shaft 4| extending from a worm gear 42 engagedby a worm 43 (Fig, 2) mounted on the shaft of an electric motor 44. Themotor is connected with a casing 45 of the gears and is attached to theframe 3. The cams may have several projections 46 (Fig. 5) as may berequired balls. rheostat 41 placed in the circuit of the motor connectedwith a power line 46. The cams are staggered in order to alternatelyreciprocate the two pins, one pin rising when the other is beinglowered. The pin 31 slides in the bore 3 and controls the passage of theballs through the barrel,

while the pin 36 enters the passage 5 of the magaon the enlargement 56,thereby stopping the movement of the pin 38'. The notch 58 is so placedthat the pin is caught by the lug 59 in its upper position in which itcloses the passage for the balls through the barrel 1. The corresponding cam will then continue to rotate under the roller of the pin 36without causing it to move. a

the passage for the compressed air in the valve 3, a retrieving spring34 being provided for closing the valve. The air passes into the rear01' the magazine through the pipe l4 and pushes the balls into thepassage 5 from which they are admitted into the bore 3 by the pin 31,the pin 36 limiting the admittance to one ball at a time, and alsoreleasing the ball into the barrel I to be projected at the target. Thepins are continuously operated by the motor 44 at a desired speed. Whenthe supply of the balls in the magazine is exhausted, a new charge canbe placed through \the charging opening 20 by removing-the cap l8.

The latter is connected at 65 by hinged links 66 and 61 with a lever 66of a counter 69 of an ordinary construction which registers by the pullof the links every time when the cap is removed. The links are looselyconnected together so that they permit turning the cap l6 in order toengage or disengage the pins 22. Simultaneously, with the opening of thevalve I, the pin 55 is moved to the right. releasing the lug II from thenotch 58, thereby permitting the front pin I! to drop down under actionoi. its retrieving spring 54 against its canr 40 which will thenreciprocate the pin 31, thereby successively releasing the balls in thebarrel, the motor 44 operating :continuously. The valve is closed by itsspring .4 when the trigger is released, the pin 55 being simultaneouslyreleased through its rods and the bridge 6| which are disengaged fromthe lever 25. The lug 59 will engage the notch 50 as soon as the pin 38'is raised to the highest position in its travel under action of the cam40.

It is understood that my machine gun may be further modified withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention, as set forth in the appendedclaims.

I=claim as my invention:

1. A pneumatic machine gun comprising a barrel, an air-tight magazinefor balls in communication with the rear portion 01 the barrel, twomovable members extending into the path of the balls between themagazine and the barrel, one member being adapted to admit the ballsinto the barrel from the magazine, the second member being adapted tolimit the admittance to one ball at a time, means to alternately operatethe members for admitting the balls into the barrel at a predterminedrate, means to admit compressed air into the barrel, means to admit thecompressed air into the magazine back of the balls, a manually conadmitcompressed air into the rear end of the barrel continuation in the blockand into the outer end of the magazine for causing air fiow through themagazine and thmugh the barrel,"

thereby projecting the balls from. the barrel, pins slidably fitted inthe block and passing into the passage for the balls in the block, thepins diameter 01' one ball, a motor, means to alternately reciprocate,the pins by the motor for admitting the balls into the barrel one at atime, and a retrieving means for the pins, the operative end of at leastone pin being adapted to close the bore after the passage 01' everyball, thereby stopping the flow ot the compressed air through thebarrel.

4. A pneumatic. machine gun comprising a I ,thereby projecting the ballsfrom the barrel, pins slidably fitted in the block and passing into thepassage for the balls in the block, the pins being spaced apart at adistance corresponding to the diameter of one ball, a motor, means toalternately reciprocate the pins by the motor tor admitting the ballsinto the barrel one at a time, a retrieving means for the pins, andyieldable members interposed between the pins and the pin-reciprocatingmeans,

5. A pneumatic machine un comprisin a barrel, a block supporting therear end of the barrel and having a bore forming a continuation of thebarrel, an air-tight magazine for balls extending at one end into theblock, the block having a passage for the balls between the magazine andthe barrel, means to simultaneously admit compressed air into'the rearend-oi the barrel continuation in the block and into the outer end ofthe magazine for causing air flow through the magazine and through thebarrel,

, thereby projecting the ballsirom the barrel,-

pins slidably fitted in the block and-passing into i 1 the passage forthe ballsin thebloclg'the pins 1 being spaced apart atadistance-corresponding tothe diameter o-tgone' ball, a motor, means toalternately'reciprocatexthe'pins by the motor for admitting thebal'lsinto'the barrel one at a time,

., a retrieving means for thepins, each pin conbeing spaced apart at adistance corresponding to the diameter of one ball, a motor, means toalternately reciprocate the pins by the motor for admitting the ballsinto the barrel one at a time, and a retrieving means for the pins, theoperative ends of the pins being adapted to cover a portion only of thearea of the passage, thereby permitting an uninterrupted air flowthrough the magazine and through the barrel.

3. A pneumatic machine gun comprising a barrel, a block supporting therear end of the barrel and having a bore forming acontinuatlon of thebarrel, an air-tight magazine for balls extending at one end into'theblock, the block having a passage for the balls between the magazine andthe barrel, means to simultaneously admit sisting of two relativelymovable portions resilient membersfor keeping the two portions apartlengthwise, and 'means to limit the outward movement of the two portionsof each pin.

6. A pneumatic machine gun comprising a barrel, a blocksupporting therear end of the barrel and having a bore forming a continuation of thebarrel, an air-tight magazine for balls extending at one endinto theblock, the block having a passage for the balls between the magazine andthe barrel, means to simultaneously admit compressed air into the rearend of the barrel continuation in the block and into the outer endof themagazine for causing air flow through the magazine and through thebarrel,

pins slidably fitted in the block and passing into the passage for theballs in the block, the pins being spaced apart at a distancecorresponding to the diameter of one ball, a motor, a shaft opcompressedair into the rearend of the barrel eratively connected with the motor,cams on the shaft adapted to alternately'move the pins, and retrievingsprings for the pins, the pins being adapted to admit the balls into thebarrel at a predetermined rate.

7. A pneumatic machine gun comprising a barrel, a tubular magazine forballs extending alongside the barrel and in communication with the rearend of the barrel, the "magazine being provided with an opening forcharging the balls therein, a cover for the magazine, means to admitcompressed air into the rear end of the barrel, means to admitcompressed air into the front end of the magazine, thereby causing theair to flow through the magazine and out of the barrel together with theballs entrained from the magazine, means to manually control theair-admitting means, the rear portion of the magazine extending into thebarrel at an angle, a pin slidably supported at the rear end of thebarrel passing into the end portion of the magazine and adapted tocontrol the movement of the balls from the magazine into the barrel, asecond pin in parallel relation to the first pin slldably fitted intothe barrel in front of the first pin and spaced therefrom at a distancecorresponding to the diameter of the ball, a motor, and means toalternately reciprocate the pins by the motor, thereby admitting theballs from the magazine into the barrel at a predetermined rate, the

pins being adapted to control the movement of,

the balls.

8. A pneumatic machine gun comprising a barrel, artubular magazine forballs extending alongside the barrel and in communication with the rearend of the barrel, the magazine beingprovided with an opening forcharging the balls therein, a cover for the magazine, means to ad- I mitcompressed air into the rear end of the barrel, means to admitcompressed air into the front end of the magazine, thereby causing theair to flow through the magazine and out of the barrel together with theballs entrained from the magazine, means to manually control theair-admitting means, the rear portion of the magazine extending into thebarrel at an angle, a pin slidabiy supported at the rear end of thebarrel passing into the end portion of the magazine and adapted tocontrol the movement of the balls from the magazine into the barrel,asecand pin in parallel relation tothe first pin slidably fitted intothe barrel in front of the first pin and spaced therefrom at a distancecorresponding to the diameter of the ball, a motor, means to alternatelyreciprocate the pins by the motor, thereby admitting the balls from themagazine into the barrel at a predetermined rate, the pins being adaptedto control the movement of the balls, 2. yieldable means to retain thefront pin in the closing position for preventing the movement of theballs, and means to manually release the front pin.

9. A pneumatic machine gun comprising a barrel, a tubular magazine forballs extending alongside the barrel and in communication with the rearend of the barrel, the magazine being provided with an opening forcharging the balls therein, a cover for the magazine, means toadmitcompressed air into the rear end of the barrel, means to admitcompressed air into the front end of the magazine, thereby causing theair to flow through the magazine and out of the barrel together with theballs entrained from the magazine, means to manually control theair-admitting means, the rear portion of the magazine extending into thebarrel at an angle, a pin slidably supported at the rear end of thebarrel passing into the end portion of the magazine and adapted tocontrol the movement of the balls from the magazine into the barrel, asecond pin in parallel relation to the first .pin

slidably fitted into the barrel in front of the first pin and spacedtherefrom at'a distance corresponding to the diameter of the ball, amotor, means to alternately reciprocate the pins by the motor, therebyadmitting the balls from the magazine into the barrel at a predeterminedrate,

the pins beingadapted to control the movement of the balls, a yieldablemeans to retain the front pin in the closing position for preventing themovement of the balls, and means to manually release the front pin, thefront pin being adapted in the closing position to close the passage forthe air through the barrel.

10. A pneumatic machine gun comprising a barrel, an air-tight tubularmagazine for balls, the rear end of the magazine being in communicationwith the rear end of the barrel, a manually controlled means forsimultaneously admitting compressed air into the barrel and into thefront end of the magazine for continuously projecting the balls, 8.motor, means to control by the motor the rate of movement of the ballsfrom the magazine into the barrel, a casing enclosing the barrel and themagazine with the air-admitting means, a block connecting the front endsof the barrel and of the magazine and extending in front of the casing,the block having a bore forming a continuation of the magazine andfurther having an opening for charging the magazine with new balls, anda removable closure for the end of the magazine and for the chargingopening.

:11. A pneumatic machine gun comprising a barrel, a tubular magazine forballs extending alongside the barrel and in communication with the rearend of the barrel, the magazine being provided with an opening forcharging the balls therein, a cover for the magazine, means to admitcompressed air into the rear end of the barrel, means to admitcompressed air into the front end of the magazinejthereby causing theair to flow through the magazine and out of the barrel together with theballs entrained from the magazine, means to manually control theairadmitting means, means to maintain a predetermined rate of movementof the balls from the magazine into the barrel, a counter, and means tooperate the counter by the cover for counting the number of charges ofthe balls placed into the magazine.

12. A pneumatic machine gun comprising a barrel, a tubular magazine forballs extending alongside the barrel and in communication with the rearend of the barrel, the magazine being provided with an opening forcharging the balls therein, a cover for the magazine, means to admitcompressed air into the rear end of the barrel, means .to admitcompressed air into the front end of the magazine, thereby causing theair to flow through the magazine and out of the barrel together with theballs entrained from the magazine, means to manually control theairadmitting means, means to maintain a predetermined rate of movementof the balls from the magazine into the barrel, a counter having anoperating lever, and flexible connecting members between the counterlever and the cover, the lever being thereby adapted to operate thecounter when the cover is removed, the flexible members being furtheradapted to retain the cover in the removed position. 1

CHARLES A. FEL'I'MAN.

